Trapezoid sidestones-what should I look for?

[Bella_mezzo]

I am in the process of upgrading the sidestones in my three stone e-ring. YAY! But...what should I look for in terms of numbers, etc. to know if they are well cut. They''ll be small (approx .1 ct each) but my center stone is a sapphire and I really want the side stones to sparkle like crazy (like the melee in my LOGR Michael-b inspired wedding band)

Please help!!!

 

[Rockdiamond]

HI Bella,
Actually one carat each is HUGE for trapezoids!
If we were using diamonds, you''d generally need something large- maybe over 5 carats, to fit with one carat traps on each side

There are both step cut, as well as brilliant faceted trapezoids.
Have you seen examples of each?

 

[bebe]

Date: 12/21/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author:Bella_mezzo
I am in the process of upgrading the sidestones in my three stone e-ring. YAY! But...what should I look for in terms of numbers, etc. to know if they are well cut. They''ll be small (approx .1 ct each) but my center stone is a sapphire and I really want the side stones to sparkle like crazy (like the melee in my LOGR Michael-b inspired wedding band)

Please help!!!

Are you wanting brilliant traps or step cut traps ??

 

[bgray]

David: she wrote .1 not 1 carat. i think you might have a very hard time finding them cut that small honestly.

 

[chrono]

Date: 12/21/2009 3:45:17 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
HI Bella,
Actually one carat each is HUGE for trapezoids!
If we were using diamonds, you'd generally need something large- maybe over 5 carats, to fit with one carat traps on each side

There are both step cut, as well as brilliant faceted trapezoids.
Have you seen examples of each?

David,
I believe she's asking for 10 pointers each, not 1 ct each.

I believe they exist that small but in that size, it's just easier to get the jeweller setting the ring to source a matched pair.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thanks bgray and Chrono!
I agree- not only will they be difficult to source- they'll be too small to work effectively, as they'll be almost invisible.
We checked with a cutter specializing in them.
.35ct tw is the smallest we could find in either step or brilliant

 

[bgray]

it may be easier to have two baguettes and clip the corners??

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Wow, thanks so much everyone for replying!!!

David, I wish I could swing 1ct, but no, my ring is quite dainty and currently has approx. 08 or .1 brilliant cut traps on each side.

My DH did a great job designing my ring (a total suprise) but the side stones are kind of dead and don't seem to be that great so we decided to upgrade them this year.

We wouldn't mind upping our budget and going a little larger on the side stones, but the center is an almost 1ct (.9something) mixed radiant cut sapphire and we want to make sure that it isn't overwhelmed by the sidestones. Also, my DH designed the setting and we both love it (a simple 2mm flat band, with thin pronged three-stone basket setting)....so, we want to keep the same setting. I am all about bigger and more sparkly if it still works proportion-wise and we can use our current setting

Would it be possible to modify the setting to fit in slightly larger side stones, and/or is that really expensive?

I'm also open to half moons on the sides if those are easier to find in the smaller sizes...

I LOVE step cuts but since the center stone is radiant, and I want the side stones to sparkle like mad, I think brilliant cut traps or half moons are probably best...

 

[bgray]

hald moons, traps -either would look great it seems based on your description. I would make sure you buy white (FG) and well cut --not shardy little splinters. They end up dull and dirty all of the time. There are some reputable places that specialize in unique pairs of this nature. You may want your jeweler to bring a few pairs in to try for size and look and then decide. Thats what I did. I ended up with a pair of .50 carat each step cut kites but it took several pairs to get it perfect

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks bgray!

I am in NYC (Manhattan) but this is my first piece of real jewelry (my DH thinks he's now created a monster

) Do you have any recs on vendors who might be able to help me? I know it's the holidays and jewelers are busy so I'm not suprised that most I've emailed have not gotten back to me yet. We do have an appt to go back to the vendor where he purchased the ring (Natural Sapphire Company) and look at stones there in January, but I'm not sure what to look for cut-wise in half moons and traps to make sure they are really well-cut diamonds that will sparkle (or glitter since they are a smaller size like crazy in a variety of light. I think we'll definitely stick with high colors and clarity for this since they are so small, but how do I tell if they are well cut?

Currently, it almost looks like there is a facet missing on one of my sidestones. I can look through a v-shaped part along the long straight side and see my sapphire?!?! There is no sparkle there. I have a LOGR wedding band that is basically a thinner (2mm) version of the michael B petite crown lace band and the teeny tiny mele on there (which LOGR says are H-VS1) are sparkling the pants off of my e-ring side stones and look considerably whiter. The sapphire and setting are beautiful, but the diamonds on my e-ring only really sparkle in direct sunlight.

DH had a GREAT experience at NSC, but since diamonds aren't their primary business, and since their prices tend to be a little high anyway IMO, I want to make sure that if we get new sidestones from them that they are great. Or if there's another vendor who might be a better fit for this job that I find them.

Thanks again for the help and advice! Keep it coming

P.S. I know there have been a lot of NSC threads recently, DH really did love working with them and, for his budget, with the level of customer service and custom design work he did with them, he was really satisfied with the ring and his price. I think the quality of the diamonds in my ring is largely due to the initial ring budget, but now since we're in a little better position financially, and since my WB is so sparkly and white, DH suggested we look into upgrading the sides. Since I have other projects I also want to try and have done this year

I'm trying to make sure we get the best stones for the best price on this project.

 

[bebe]

Gosh, I met with a vendor in NYC that specialized in side stones - dang, I can''t remember his name!!!
Leon Mege sent me over to him, but in the end, we used another supplier.

Definitely, buy the best you can.
Have you looked at "Cadillac Cuts" ?

 

[bgray]

http://www.trapz.com/

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks bebe and bgray,

trapz.com has alot of options!

Cadillac cut looks interesting too.

So basically, with all of these how do I know if they are well cut. Do I just see which one looks the most sparkly in person, do I ask to see it in different lights, or are there objective numbers/things I should be looking for? If I just tell a vendor I want excellently cut stone how do I know that''s what they''re giving me?

Thanks again for helping a newbie!

 

[bgray]

well i am no expert on evaluating cut on a side stone but i would ask for the measurements and using tweezers assess the stone from the side and face down. Is there a decent crown on the stone and a little depth. Those factors will help a side stone perform just like a larger stone.

 

[Rockdiamond]

bella- the best way we have found to do it is to use the center stone and place it next to the side diamonds in a capsule, so you can see how they face up.
To evaluate the sparkle, look at the stones under a variety of lighting sources. Using a tweezers you should be able to see if the stone is lively in the face up position, as well as checking from the side.

It's important to have a lot of choices.
In addition to the sparkle factor there's the size factor. For example, I felt the ones in the photo were too large.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thank you all so much! I feel like I have a better idea of what to look for and will keep you posted in January after we start looking at stones.

 

[chrono]

Actually, in that size, you don’t need super duper high clarity and colour but you do need good cutting to make it sparkle a lot. Like you said, you can tell which diamonds sparkle better than others, so you can tell which is well cut and which is not by just comparing using your eyes. Look at them away from the store’s strong lights; go to the window and also view them under the table.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks Chrono,

I never would have thought of under the table

I think I need to go up in color as my current sidestones look sort of yellowish next to my wb, though that could just be b/c they aren''t that well cut. One actually seems to be a noticeably worse cut than the other. Can''t wait to see what I find in January...I''ll come back and update you all accordingly.

Happy Holidays!!!
Bella

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have a different suggestion... I too have a square cut sapphire and wanted sparkle for the sides, so I feel your pain. But you mentioned that you want the sparkle that you see in your wb, and I am not sure you will get that with traps. I wonder if you have thought about resetting the sapphire into a setting that alludes to the original setting but uses bead set rbs as a halo, or as accent sidestones to create the shimmer and sparkle you want?

I''m sort of envisioning something like these (picture an EC in them):

http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/79PP1/
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-designers/beverley-k-jewelry/rings/83PP1/28/
http://www.ritani.com/products/view/473/in_collection/3

Or the attached even...

Just thoughts. I know you really like the setting that your DH designed for you, so maybe sentiment wins out

I know when I started feeling the need for sparkle I ended up with an RB

... had my sapph been well cut, though, I would have set it into one of these types of settings I think.